ENHANCING STUDENTS’ ATTITUDES TOWARD BASIC SCIENCE USING SCENARIO-BASED LEARNING STRATEGY IN LAGOS, NIGERIA

Abstract

This study dealt with enhancing students’ attitudes toward Basic Science using Scenario-Based Learning Strategy (SBLS) in Lagos, Nigeria. Pretest posttest control group quasi experimental research design was adopted. Three Educational Districts were randomly selected, and two Junior Secondary Schools were randomly selected from each District. Intact class was used from each school and treatment was randomly assigned to the schools. The schools were assigned SBLS (241) and control (239) groups, totaling 480. Three research hypotheses were raised and tested in the study. The instruments used include Students’ Attitude to Basic Science Questionnaire (SABSQ), Operational Guide on Scenario-based Analysis Instructional Strategy (OGSIS), Operational Guide on Conventional Strategy (OGCS) and Evaluation Sheet for Assessing Operational Guide (ESAOG). The treatment lasted seven weeks. The data collected were analyzed using ANCOVA, Estimated Marginal Means (EMM) and graphical illustration. The findings revealed that there was a significant main effect of treatment on students’ attitude to Basic Science (F_{(1; 479)} = 368.95; p<0.05, partial η² = 0.44). Indicated that the main effect of gender on students’ attitude to Basic Science was not significant (F _{(1; 479)} = 1.85; p>0.05). It revealed that the interaction effect of treatment and gender on students’ attitude to Basic Science was significant (F_{(1; 479)} = 6.86; p<0.05, partial η² = 0.01). Based on the findings of this study, it is recommended that teachers should be encouraged to employ student-centered instructional strategies, such as Scenario-Based learning strategy which is activities based to promote creativity and enable the students to develop positive attitude to learning